Lotus gifts Toyota an Elise with last 2ZZ engine

The last Toyota 2ZZ-GE VVTLi four cylinder engine has been built, and Lotus got it. Lotus CEO Dany Bahar and Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda came together at the British Embassy in Tokyo for a celebration where Toyota was presented with an Elise R carrying the engine by Bahar. The shindig marks a new chapter in the two companies' partnership, one that will allow Lotus to create powertrains that are more exclusively its own in future cars with the continued cooperation of Toyota.

Designed for Toyota by Yamaha, the 2ZZ-GE engine owed a lot to motorcycle engine practice, and the wide-angled valves and variable valve timing and lift system enabled the high-revving engine to develop 100 horsepower per liter, and even more when supercharged. Power levels floated between 160-180 hp naturally aspirated and as much as 250 when supercharged and intercooled.

The question now is what engine Lotus and Toyota will cook up to take the place of the 2ZZ-GE, now that its veteran power unit has been retired. We should find out more on that front at the upcoming Paris Motor Show

2010 Lotus Evora Photos

2010 Lotus Evora Side View2010 Lotus Evora Car Interior2010 Lotus Evora Super Car2010 Lotus Evora Seats2010 Lotus Evora Rear Angle View2010 Lotus Evora Car Wallpaper

Lotus accidentally confirms Evora automatic and S variants for Paris through email snafu

Lotus seems to have quite a hit on its hands in the form of the Evora. We were quite taken with it ourselves when given the chance to put the car through its paces in Southern California, and we've yet to hear a nasty word uttered in its general direction. But that doesn't mean Lotus can't find a way to improve the breed yet further.

Apparently, a couple of those improvements are headed to the Paris Motor Show later this year. Buried within the automaker's stand will be both a hotted-up S version of the Evora and one bestowed with an automatic transmission. How do we know? Well, an errant email recently went out to everyone on Lotus' media list (ourselves included) that promised the two machines along with the other "new car(s) not yet announced."

As if the thought of a Lotus Evora S (forced induction?) and an automatic for the clutch averse among you wasn't enough, it seems the British specialists have plenty more up their well-tailored sleeves. There's been plenty of postulation regarding what else we may see – most notably the rumored return of the Esprit – but we're content to just take a wait-and-see attitude on this one. Paris just can't come soon enough.

SPESIFIKASI Motor Radikal | Lotus dan Proton

SPESIFIKASI Motor Radikal | Lotus dan Proton

The combined company Lotus and Proton is preparing a radical sports car. It is said that because his presence later, the car will shake the luxury car market. Like what?

Obviously, the intention was ambitious enough because Lotus and Proton trying to steal a luxury car market from Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin as part of what is called 'The Dawn of a new era. "

As reported by Autocar, Saturday (06/26/2010) starting from the concept of radicalization that Showcase Lotus founder Colin Chapman, that is a car that was 'light and simple'.

Thus, our corporate philosophy will also be changed for future models and concept cars goodbye a complex, high cost manufacturing technique with the upper class.

As expressed by Proton and Lotus Chairman, Datuk Mohd Salleh Mohd Nadzmi which outlines the company's plans to build a car with a new motto, 'Tomorrow's luxury sports cars, today'.

Car will cost an average 110 thousand to 80 thousand pounds, which includes application of technology was a double 7-speed transmission, active aerodynamics, dampers variable, hybrid systems, and alternate fuels.

Its realization will begin with a concept car that had the Golden Proton displayed at the Geneva Motor Show, which offers competition from Aston Martin Cygnet and the Toyota IQ.

Lotus to target Europe's best, evolve from lightweight to luxury

Yesterday Lotus did something rather... odd. The Malasian-owned British sports car maker sent the entire automotive world a high-res picture of Stonehenge and announced it represented the, "Dawn of a new era." We initially interpreted this to mean that the new Lotus Esprit would show up in Paris. We still think we're right about that part, but Lotus might have been letting a little bit more cat out of bag than they intended.

According to a report from Malaysia, Lotus owner Proton has hired a plethora of ex-Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin employees (including Frank Tuch, the former Director of Quality Management at Porsche) in hopes of transforming the brand away from Toyota-engined track day novelties (hello, Exige!) into a full-fledged Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin fighting luxury, high-performance brand. Of course that entails abandoning Colin Chapman's maxim, "Simplify, then add lightness," in favor of the German mandate to, "Complexify, then add steel." If you think the Italians are any better, realize that every new Ferrari ships with eighteen miles of wiring. But look on the bright side, the new cars (which will have some sort of hybrid-ness cooked in) could draw power from Chapman spinning his grave.

As we speculated yesterday, the new Esprit will need something resembling a V8 engine (at least) to not only fill the shoes of the old, long-loved Esprit, but also to compete with the world's best luxury/performance machers. Luckily for both Lotus and Lotus fans, engine-supplier Toyota has just such a motor in the form of the IS F's 416 horsepower, 371 pound-feet or torque 5.0-liter V8. Of course, if you want to play in the stratosphere with the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and/or Aston Martin these days, you're going to need at least 500 horsepower. But where would Lotus get an engine like that?

According to the report, the Lexus LFA's 552 hp, 9,000 rpm 4.8-liter V10 could be made available for Esprit duty, though it might be slightly detuned. Still, an aluminum and composite V10 is an aluminum and composite V10. While that might sound odd at first blush, Toyota (no doubt) spent a sick amount of yen coming up with the LFA's V10, but they're only building 500 (or so) LFAs. So why not recoup the pricey development costs elsewhere? Like say in a Lotus range-topper? The question then becomes: Does the world want a 500+ horsepower Lotus dolled up with enough electronic whizbangery to compete with Europe's finest? Only time and the marketplace will tell.

Lotus Ice Vehicle Concept, 2008

Lotus Ice Vehicle Concept, 2008

Lotus Ice Vehicle Concept, 2008

2011 Lotus Elise

2011 Lotus Elise Front View2011 Lotus Elise Side View2011 Lotus Elise Interior 2011 Lotus Elise Rear Angle View

2010 Lotus Evora Carbon Concept specification

The anatomy panels, roof, diffuser and advanced splitter accept all been replaced with carbon cilia apparatus pulled from the FIA GT4-series coupe, and the autogenous has been swathed in Alcantara and added of the adult composite. Lotus charcoal mum on absolutely how abounding pounds accept been afford acknowledgment to the carbon cilia diet, but alive the marque's affection for bound copy models, we wouldn't be afraid to see a assembly archetypal aggressive by the abstraction aural the abutting year.The abreast autogenous of the Evora Carbon Concept car combines the afterglow of the carbon panels with perforated covering and matte alcantara. The bespoke autogenous uses swathes of awe-inspiring blah alcantara to awning the footwell, dashboard and roof. The bendable arrangement of the covering and alcantara are abutting with the adamantine surfaces of the carbon cilia panels to accommodate a acceptable acoustic experience.

2010 Lotus Evora Carbon Concept Interior

The Evora Carbon Concept car has diamond-cut 19" artificial auto advanced and rear, shod with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires (235/35 front, 285/30 advanced rear). Donato Coco, Director of Lotus Architecture commented, "The architecture of the Evora Carbon Concept car appearance exotic, aerial tech abstracts that action a acceptable synergy with the Lotus cast image, cogent our motorsport ancestry and history of beautiful sports cars for which Lotus are renowned."

 2010 Lotus Evora Carbon Concept wallpaper

2010 Lotus Evora Carbon Concept specification

2010 Lotus Evora Carbon Concept specification

2010 Lotus Evora Carbon Concept front view

Lotus

Lotus

2010 Lotus Exige S Type 72

The Lotus Exige S Type 72 celebrates the most successful F1 car of all time, the Lotus Type 72 Formula One car, which achieved 20 Grand Prix victories between 1970 and 1975. The Lotus Type 72 was driven by such Lotus greats as Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson and Jacky Ickx and won three Formula One Constructors’ Championships (1970, 1972 and 1973) and two Drivers’ World

Lotus Hot Wheels Concept, 2007

Lotus Hot Wheels Concept, 2007

To celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, Hot Wheels approached Lotus and other world leaders in he automotive industry with the challenge for each company to produce a vehicle that embodies its own engineering philosophy and brand.


Lotus Design's international reputation for designing visually dynamic and exhilarating sports cars perfectly fitted the brief for this programme and we relished the opportunity to design a concept that was free from the typical technical and legal constraints of a full size car.
The car needed to be recognisable as a Lotus without having to turn it over to look at the badge underneath, so.  Bold aerodynamic aids are incorporated to achieve exceptional Lotus handling. The top exit radiator at the front, a distinctive Lotus design feature, the rear diffuser and a large rear wing all provide down-force helping the vehicle stick to the road. In addition, large side air intakes and an open rear end aid engine breathing. Inside the car, the exposed centre spine is part of the structure and incorporates the switches and gear linkage and supports the rear wing."

Lotus Design has a global reputation and is responsible for the design of all Lotus cars, including Lotus Europa, Exige and iconic Elise and many designs for our engineering clients globally. The same design team who created this stunning concept is also designing our new range of cars, the first of which, codenamed Project Eagle, will go into production at the end of next year."

Lotus Elise

Lotus Elise

Lotus Elise Car

Lotus Elise

Lotus Elise Wallpapers

Lotus Exige

Lotus Exige

Lotus Exige Car

Lotus Exige

Lotus Exige Wallpapers

Lotus Exige Scura Wallpaper

Lotus Exige Scura Wallpaper

2010 Lotus Evora Car Pictures

2010 Lotus Evora View Interior2010 Lotus Evora Picture2010 Lotus Evora View Rear

2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 Car Sport

2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 Car Sport2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 Black Colour Edition2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260 View Interior